Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Chapter 8:

"Business later, first, we eat, Roxas! Bring on the food," Xemnas motioned forth for the food.

"Yes, sir," Roxas pulled out Marluxia's beer and set it on the counter to let it collect moisture on the counter while he went into the back and returned with the food.

"Thank you, Roxas, now, why don't you go take some time off for the evening, I'll call for you when we are done," Xemnas remarked as he waved the young teen off as the others sat down and proceeded to talk in secret.

Glares and leers were seen around as they talked in depth and tried to make sure that Roxas wasn't within hear distance.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you when I see you, sir," Roxas undid the apron about his waist and placed it on the counter.

He straightened his clothes and pull out the fedora he had been given and went out through the back entrance to the alleyway and out onto the streets. There wasn't much hustle and bustle on a day like today; it was Sunday so many people were in the local Church attending to the services and listening to the word of God.

"If there truly is a God, why doesn't he doesn't he deliver me from the Hell I've been allotted," Roxas softly remarked under his breath as he passed St. John the Divine Cathedral.

The sounds of the Church congregation singing a soulful old hymn could be heard flittering out into the streets and into the ears of those who passed by its tall Cathedral ceilings and Gothic exterior. The sounds of the end of service bells rang out as Roxas started to pass by the doors and as he did; he didn't expect to see the familiar auburn hair of someone he knew.

"Is that...no, it couldn't be...is that, Sora?" Roxas asked out loud as he tipped up his fedora to see the smiling face of the auburn boy he had befriended so many years ago standing beside his brother who was slightly taller then the boy with the same auburn hair.

"Sora, you really need to learn to stay awake during the sermons, Father Yen Sid could hear you snoring clear up into the rafters," Squall elbowed his younger brother lightly as he saw Sora stretching still.

"Oh come on, it's hard to stay awake at times, especially with how slow he speaks the sermons," Sora remarked as he stretched and yawned at the same time.

"Hmph, what am I going to do with you?" Squall asked out loud as his eyes moved down the stairs to the young blonde teen staring up at them, "What the...is that?" "What is what, brother?" Sora asked questioningly and puzzled as he saw the look of wonder and worry on his face.

"Could it...no it couldn't possibly be, Roxas?" Squall asked out loud as the last word escaped his mouth within hearing of Sora.

"What, Roxas? Where?!" Sora quickly looked ahead as his eyes darted about and gazed out over the numerous heads in front of him.

Squall wasted no time in dashing down the cement like stairs after Roxas, but before he could make it to Roxas; he had been stopped by Father Yen Sid.

"Where you are off to in such a hurry, Mr. Leonhart?" Father Yen Sid asked the man with a slight smile on his face as he shook Squall's hand.

Squall's eyes darted over the padded shoulders of the Priest as he started to look for Roxas, but, he was already gone.

"Brother, why were you running away?" Sora asked as he clung to Squall's arm as they walked home.

Squall's eyes were squared, rounded and firmly set on something that he was thinking about; he only got this way when he was deep in thought.

"Brother!" Sora screeched out as if trying to get his attention.

"WHAT IS IT!?!" Squall shouted as he pulled away from Sora as to glare into his face.

"I'm sorry...I didn't realize you were deep in thought," he started to sniff slightly as he wiped away at a few tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry."

Squall could see he had hurt his brother's feelings as he stopped him on the sidewalk and knelt down to his level as he wiped away his tears.

"I'm sorry, little man, I've just...I've just been tied up with a lot of work lately since that bust at the Jazz Club a couple of years ago. The Chief still hasn't forgiven me for getting in so deep," Squall tried to apologize as he scratched the back of his head in thought as he stood straight back up.

Sora had known how stressful his big brother's job had been lately; he was also aware of the late night's he was spending away from home. He was always come home at almost the crack of dawn and sleeping most of the day only to wake up about mid-day to go back to his job.

"Its alright, I forgive you," Sora beamed a smile across his face.

"Hmmm, I see that not only can I not stay mad at you for long, I guess you can't either with me," Squall playfully ruffled his brother's hair.

"Brother, who were you chasing after back at the Church?" Sora asked as they headed home.

"It was nothing, I thought I saw someone I knew," Squall lied through his teeth to cover up the truth, "Roxas...what are you doing dressed like a Mobster...why?"